Rate My Professor Tom Quinn

Tom Quinn is a Professor of Theatre Arts at Illinois Wesleyan University, serving as Head of the BFA Acting Program in the School of Theatre Arts. He began his theatre education at DePaul University’s Goodman School of Drama before earning a B.S. in Theatre and an M.F.A. in Acting from Illinois State University. With more than two decades as a professional actor and member of Actors' Equity Association, Quinn has performed over 60 roles in professional productions across renowned theatres. Notable performances include Yang Sun in Bertolt Brecht's The Good Person of Setzuan at Arena Stage, directed by Garland Wright, and Zamiotov in an adaptation of Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment at the same venue, directed by Yuri Lubimov. Additional credits encompass Center Stage in Baltimore, The Goodman Theatre, Briar Street Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Commons Theatre, Drury Lane Theatre, New Stage Theatre in Jackson, Mississippi, and American Inside Theatre in Milwaukee. On television, he co-starred as Dr. Peter Stern in ABC's Burden of Proof, the mini-series based on Scott Turow's novel.

At Illinois Wesleyan University, Quinn teaches courses in Acting, Shakespeare, and On-Camera Acting, and directs student productions. His directorial credits include Measure for Measure, Into the Woods, Scrooge! the musical, An Enemy of the People, Lysistrata, The Trojan Women, and The Children's Hour. He also leads student filmmaking initiatives, such as the Phenom Film Festival, where student films under his guidance have received awards. A certified DaVinci Resolve trainer, Quinn continues to engage in professional theatre, including appearances at the Illinois Shakespeare Festival, Theatre at Monmouth, and Clarence Brown Theatres during his 2012 junior faculty leave. His achievements are recognized through a three-time nomination for the Irene Ryan Acting Award and winning the Princess Grace Foundation USA Actor’s Award.